Machine for sorting and separating sheets or printed forms



Oct. 3, 1944. J. ZALKIND 2,359,705

MACHINE FOR SORTING AND SEPARATING SHEETS OR PRINTED FORMS Original Filed' May 31, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JOSEPH ZAumvo ATTOR NEY J. ZALKIND 2,359,705

MACHINE FOR SORTING AND SEPARATING SHEETS OR PRINTED FORMS Oct. 3, 1944.

Original Filed May 51, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 EEK a 1551! (EM Hlll|, o O g hlhq P i I I I I IOI 1Q I O "'lDi.

OSEPH ZA LK/ND 9.1w R Maw ATTOR NE! J. ZALKIND Oct. 3, 1944.

MACHINE FOR SORTING AND SEPARATING SHEETS OR PRINTED FORMS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed May 31, 1941 um g . NNN

E NE INVENTOR. JIOSEPH ZA LK/ND QM MM.-

QMN WWW. xmmN Www \ku l ll Illlllllllllll! ATTORNEY J. ZALKIND Oct. 3; 1944.

MACHINE FOR SORTING AND SEPARATING SHEETS OR PRINTED FORMS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed May 31, 1941 matter are made at the same time.

Patented Oct. 3, 1944 MACHINE FOR SOB-TING AND SEPARATING SHEETS OR PRINTED FORMS Joseph Zalkind, New York, N. Y. 3

Original application May 31, 1941, Serial No.

396,058. Divided and this application November 3, 1942, Serial No. 464,404 g Claims.

My invention relates to machines for sorting and separating sheets or p n o a d has particular reference to a machine for sorting and separating printed forms of on kind from a pile containing difierent kinds of forms, including such forms as invoices, purchase orders, statements, etc, which may be bound in manifold books, or in the so-called snap-out style.

This is a divisional application of my application Serial No. 396,058, filed May 31, 1941, now Patent No. 2,313,285, dated March 9, 1943.

My invention has for its object to provide a machine for sorting and separating forms of the type disclosed in my foregoing patent application. It is especially adapted to sorting sheets of paper or printed forms which are used in multiple forms interleaved with carbon or transfer sheets in which two or more copies of the same Inpresent practice, the person who makes these records does not have the time, at the time that such records are made, to sort the various sheets out into separate piles, so that all the copies are placed together and each set is piled indiscriminately on top of the other. These piles are then sorted out by hand; th person who sorts these sheets must thus handle each sheet of paper separately and must segregate each sheet individually into its proper pile. All this work is very slow and laborious. V v

With my invention, the sheets of one particular kind are sorted in such a manner that the sheets or forms of another kind are left within the pile stack while the first kind of sheets are withdrawn from the stack.

Forms of the general type herein referred to are used in practically all operations and under a wide variety of conditions, such as those which are found in ofiices, factories, stores, and ship ping establishments. My system has also an important advantage in avoiding handling of carbon paper, when the latter is used with such forms. The forms, therefore, remain untouched by hand while being withdrawn from the pile and cannot be soiled when my invention is used.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mechanism for gripping some sheets and holding same in position while others are being drawn out, and means for dropping said sheets from the mechanism, when the drawing out or pulling function is completed.

With the above indicated objects and advantages in view, as well as others which will hereinafter appear, the invention resides in certain novel constructions, methods of operation, and

arrangements of parts, the essential features of which are herein clearly described, and fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a top planview of a stack of forms constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a separated view in perspective of forms of Fig. 1, in which the members are spaced apart, for clarity, and with which operating pins or instruments are shown;

Fig. 3 is a bracketed top plan view. of the forms of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is. a partial top plan view of a form selecting or sorting machine, some parts being omitted for clarity in this View;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view, partly sectional of slide bar selector mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a detail view,

Fig. '7 is a. partly sectional side elevation;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view;

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of the right hand side of Fig. 7, and having also some parts in section;

Figs. 10 and 11 are enlarged detail views; and

Fig. 12 is a horizontal section on the line 25- 25 of Fig. 9.

Referring in detail'to said drawings, individual forms 2|, 22, 23, 24 are removed from a group or stack, as shown in Fig. 1, the stack having a binding 20, and perforated or weakened lines I9. The multiple forms of Figs; 1 to 3 are shown as illustrative, and other numbers of forms, more or less than four, may be used in a group or pack.

When the multiple forms are interleaved with carbon sheets, as is sometimes the case,'these sheets may be withdrawn with the binding, although in other cases, the carbon sheets, not shown, may be perforated in opposite margins, in the same manner as the forms, and then such carbon sheets may be withdrawn selectively, in the same manner as said forms.

In the top sheet 2|, Figs. 1 to 3, is provided in its holding side, a slot .38 and perforations or apertures 21, 28, 29, and on the opposite or pulling side of said sheet transverse to said slot .and apertures, is a marginal line of openings, consisting of an aperture 30, and slots 35, 36, 31.

The second sheet 22 is provided on its holding side with a perforation 26, a slot 39 and perforations 28, 29. On its pulling side the sheet 22 has a slot 34 in line with the perforation 26, a slot 36, in line with the perforation 28, and a slot 31 on the transverse line of the perforation 29. a

On the holding side of the third sheet'23, are perforations 26, 21, a slot 40, and the perforation the line of the slot 40, and the slot 31 in line withthe perforation 23.

The bottom sheet 24 has in the margin of its holding side apertures 26, 21, 28, and a slot 4|, and in the opposite margin of the sheet 24, are a slot 34, slots 35 and 36, as well as the aperture 33, the latter being opposite the slot 4|.

During the selecting or sorting operation, all of the sheets are maintained entirely flat and mutually engaged so that lifting or disturbing any portion of a sheet, such as a margin, from its flat engaging position, as differing from sorting operations heretofore practised, is unnecessary and not called for. In this way, as an advantage of compact arrangement, a stack of sheets may be placed upon a base, as. of a machine, and immediately above the pack, or even contacting with the top member thereof, another part, such as a .plate or bar of the mechanism, may be disposed, as hereinafter additionally brought out.

Referring to Fig. 2, as one or a primary instance of operation, when it is desired to pull out a, sheet 2| from the pack, a holding pin I04a is placed in the pile through the slot 38 of said sheet, and through the perforations 26 of the sheets 22, 23, 24. A pulling pin .I2I is placed in the pile through the perforation 30 of the sheet 2|, and through the slots 34 of the sheets 22, 23,

.24. Upon moving the pin I2I transversely, the

sheet 2| only is pulled out, because the other three sheets have slots therein and therefore remain in the pile.

The reason why the. three sheets last mentioned remain in the pile is that they have therein apertures 21, 28, 29, in which is the holding pin I04a, and this pin is movable transversely because ,of the slots 34 in the other three sheets .22, 23, 24. a

To pull out the sheet 22, the holding pin I04a (Fig. 2) is placed in the set of perforations 21 and slot 39, on the holding side of the sheets, and the pulling pin I2I is inserted through the perforation 3| and throughthe set of slots 35. Since the slot 39 is on the holding side of the sheet 22, on this transverse line, and the perforation 3| being on the pulling side,'when the pin |2| is moved transversely'said latter sheet only is withdrawn.

By placing the holding pins in the apertures 26, 21, 29 of the sheet 23, which has a slot 40 on the third transverse line, on the holding side and by using the drawing pin in. the aperture .32 on the drawing side of said line, the sheet 23 may be withdrawn, said sheet 23 having on the drawing side theslots 34, 35, 31. 1

Likewise, the sheet 24, having on the drawing side of the fourth transverseline the aperture 33, with the non-obstructing slot 4| on the holding side of said line, may be withdrawn, since in said sheet, the slots 34, 35, 36. are non-obstructing,

allowing it to come. out, and the apertures 29,-

with the holding pin retain the sheets 2|, 22, 23.

The sheets or forms 2|, 22, 23, 24, may be pulled out in any other order than. that given above.

The slots and perforations on one side or end of a sheet need not necessarily be on the same transverse lines with those on the opposite end, nor is it necessary that the perforations on the holding side be in the same order or sequence as the corresponding slots on the pulling side or vice versa.

In actual practice, a number of multiple forms having predetermined perforated and slotted sheets are stacked in a pile, and then, first, all the sheets of one kind, instead of just one sheet as in the example given above, are withdrawn at one operation from the pile, after which all the other sheets of another kind are withdrawn, and so on until all the sheets of the different kinds in the pile are sorted.

In Fig. 4 is illustrated an embodiment of a machine for automatically separating different kinds of sheets of paper.

'Referring to Fig. 4, 99 is a base plate which is supported upon a pair of side frames I and IOI, Fig. 7. A pair of U-shaped upright members I02 and I03 is supported upon the base plate 99.

. An elongated bar I04 having both ends I05 and I06 attached to racks I01 and I08 respectively is provided and made to slide up and down within operating a handle II1. within bearings H8 and H9 which are attached located inthe cross bar II3.

the u-shaped upright members I02 and I03. The

up and down motion of the bar I04 is made possible through the medium of the gear racks I01 and I08 and the gears I01a and I08a. The gears I01a and |08a are attached to a shaft I09 and arein mesh with the gear racks I01 and I06.

On said members I02, I03 are bearings I09a, I09b, and in these bearings the shaft I09 is journalled. When the shaft I09 is rotated manually through the medium of the handle N0, the bar I04 is moved upwards or downwards as required, depending on the operation of the separator mechanism shown in Fig. 4. Above the bar I04 is a housing portion I6 and above the bar H3 2. portion I1.

Another pair of U-shaped members III and H2 is attached at the opposite end of the device and to the slidably movable rack members Ia and II2a. The members Ia and II2a slide horizontally within channel-shaped ways lb and I|2b which are attached to the side frames I00 and IOI respectively (see Fig. 7).

A cross bar member II3 has a gear rack |I3a attached to one of its ends H4 and another gear rack |I3b attached to its other end II5. A pair of gears 30 and M311 is attached to the shaft H6. The gears H30 and 311 are in mesh with the gear racks H311 and I I31) and are rotated by The shaft 6 turns pins I2I are located within the openings I20.

The pins I2I, each alike, consist of a narrower portion I22 with a wider portion I23, and a 'washer I24 is attached to each of the pins I2I.

A spring is wound around the narrow part I22 of the pin I2I in sucha manner as to keep said pin always under tension. A secondary but stationary cross bar I 25 is attached to the U-shaped members I II and I I2 respectively. The wider- -ends I23 of the pins I2I are disposed within openings l25a' located in the cross bar I25 and these openings are in alignment with the openings I20 Screw heads |24b prevent the pins I2I. from disengaging from the cross bar II3.

A row of selector bars. I26 (in this case there are five) is provided. The bars I26a, I261), I260, I26d and |26e are located below the cross bar I25. The bars I26 are slidably supported within the channel shaped members I21 and I28 and The arms I29 are joined in each case to a number of u-shaped members I30 (in this case there are five U-shaped members I30a, I305, I300, I30d and I30e). The arms I29 also comprise five separate arms (in this case arms I29a, I29b, I290, I20d, and I28e) and are connected with the selector bars I26 by five fingertips I3I. Each finger I3I (see Fig. '7) has one end hingeably attached to an end of an arm I20, and an opposite end formed with a hook which holdingly engages in an aperture of an end portion I267c of a bar I26.

The five U-shaped members I30 are made to hinge upon the supporting bearings I32a and I32b through the medium of the shaft I33. A number of bent fingers I 34 (in this case there are twelve such fingers) are also hingeably supported upon the shaft I33. The forked members I35 are attached to the fingers I34 by screws, as shown. The members I35 are all of different shape (there are twelve forked members I35 in this case), their shape depending on the combination or number of U-shaped members I30; they are adapted to operate when the keys I36 are depressed.

To operate the rack members IIIa and II2a there is provided a pair of segmental gear members I31 and I38. The gears I3! and I38 are attached .toa'shaft I39 that is made to rotate within the bearings I40 and I4I which are located upon the side frames I50 and IN respectively. An electric motor I42 is fastened below the base plate 99 of the machine through the medium of a cross member I43. The motor I42 has a reduction gear box I44. A driving shaft I45 extends on both sides of the gear box I44 and carries a pair of disc-like members I46 and M1. Through the medium of a pair of connecting links I48 and I43, which are attached to the disc-like members I43 and I41 and also to a pair of arms I50 and II, the shaft I39 is given a rocking motion as shown by the arrow A, and broken lines in Fig. 9. This rocking motion operates the segmented gears I3! and I38 which transfer this motion to the slidably mounted gear racks Ia and H262. It is understood that the shaft I39 can be also operated manually through a handle, not shown, attached to the shaft or through any other mechanical or manual means.

The operation of the device shown in Figs. 4 to 12 inclusive is as follows:

The stack of perforated and slotted papers, printed forms, or the like to be sorted, and similar to the paper forms as shown and described in Figs. 1 to 3, is placed upon the base plate 99 of the device. In the device shown and described in Figs. 4 to 12 of this specification there can be sorted as many as twelve difierent kinds of printed perforated and slotted form (there are provided twelve separating pins in this device).

The keys I35 are designated with numerals or any other sort of designation and each key represents one particular kind of form to be sorted (in this case the numerals, as designated 1, 2, 3', to 12, represent twelve different kinds of forms to be sorted and these numerals are marked upon their respective keys. (See Fig. 4.)

After the stack has been placed upon the base plate 99 of the device, the operator rotates the shaft I03 by operating the handle H0. This operation will rotate the gears I0'Ia and I08a and move the gear racks I01 and I 08 downwardly. Since the cross bar I04 is attached to the gear racks I01 and I08, this downward movement of the gear racks will move the cross bar down and up on the square pins I04a. The pins I04a, are

held upright by a crossbar I04b located under the cross bar I04, and having a row of, square holes I040 for the pins I04a, and by a'secondary elongated cross bar I04d located under the bar I045. having a row of round holes I046 for the rounded ends I041 of the pins I04a. A spring I04s is located between the cross bar I045 and a cross pin I04Ic, said pin being a part of the square pin I04a. This spring keeps the pin I04a always under tension until the pin is depressed by the downward movement of the cross bar I04 as described above.

Due to the fact that every square pin, which in this case can be called a holding selector in to differentiate from the pulling selector pins I2I, is arranged to register witha perforation in the stack of paper forms, the downward motion of said pins will locate said pins within the perforations of the stack.

To hold the holding selector pin in position, after it has been moved into the stack perforation, a grooved portion I041; is located upon the pin I04a. At the downward movement of the pin I04a, and when the groove I041; reaches the cross bar I041), the pin I04a, having an inclined top face, as shown, will snap into the position shown in Fig. 11, and stay in this place until further released automatically or manually.

The next step in the operation is to bring about the pulling function, through the perforations located on the opposite end of the stack. This is accomplished through a gauge mechanism 152 which is located on the side of the machine (see Fig. 9).

The gauge mechanism consists of an adjust.--.

able stop member I53 and a scale I53a. The adjustable stop member I53 is operated by a knob I54 and a screw I55. The slidable gear rack IIIa has a permanent stop I56 which is brought in contact with the adjustable stop I53 when align,- ing the pulling selector pins I2I with the erforations of the pile stack.

After the alignment has been made, the operator depresses the proper key I36 which is under the tension of a spring I36a. Every one of the twelve keys in this case is in cont-act with one of the bent arms I34 that carry the selector forks I35. The selector forks I35 are made in such a manner that, depending on the position and the number of their extension fingers I35a, a different number of combinations can be arranged. Due to the fact that the extension fingers I35a are contacting the U-shaped members I30, every time a difierent key is depressed a different kind and number of U-shaped members I30 can be operated. In the case as shown (see Figs. 5 and 7), the forked member I35 has three extension fingers I35a arranged in such a manner that the U-shaped members I30a, I300 and I30e willv be operated.

The operation of these three members will bring into motion three of the arms I29. These are the arms I29a, I290, and [29av As these arms are attached to the sliding selector bars I23 by the fingertips I3I three of said selector 'bars will slide in the direction indicated by the arrow B. These bars will be: the bars I26a, I260 and I26e.

As can be seen in Figs. 5 and 6, the bars I26 are perforated with holes I 2620. The perforations I26x are arranged in such manner upon each of the bars I26 that, on a particular-sliding motion of some of the bars, one particular perforation of each of the bars will be in alignment with one particular perforation on each of the other bars.

In other words: to a certain selective position of the selector bars I26 only one certain perforation located upon each of said selector bars will be in alignment'with another certain perforation located upon the other bars. In Fig. 6, there is shown such a position. It can be seen there that the pin I2I passed all the perforations of the five bars while another pin I2Ia: has been stopped by the top selector bar I26a.

The same selective operation of the key mechanism can be repeated many times (in this case twelve times) depending on the key that is depressed by the operator.

Now, one of the keys I36, being depressed by the operator, and the selective operation being finished by the selector bars, the handle II! is operated manually or automatically. The rotation of this handle will operate the shaft IIB, gears I I30 and HM and the gear racks I I3a and 31), As the cross bar H3 is attached to the gear racks H311 and II3b said cross bar will be moved downwardly and force the selector pins onto the top of the selector bar I26. As only one pin at a time is permitted to enter a selected perforation set; the other pins will be forced upon their respective springs I24a depressing the springs but not entering any perforations of the selector bars I26.

The selector pin that has passed through the selected perforations of the selector bars, enters into the perforations of the stack (see Fig. 8) and now is ready to pull the forms, in which are these perforations, from the rest of the pile. The rounded or beveled end of each pin portion I22 may slightly enter a slot, as 99a, in the base plate 99.

The sorting or pulling off operation is done through the sliding motion of the gear rack members Ia and 'II2a and the rocking motion of the gear segments I31 and I38 that are operated by the electric motor I42. To this purpose an electric switch (not shown) is pressed by the operator, allowing the motor to operate the shaft I39. once to the right and then to the left.

The motor to the right of gear rack members Ia and H20, will pull the selected forms from the rest of the pile or stack and the motion to the left will cause the selector mechanism to return to its Original starting position for further use. It is understood that the rest of the sheets of the pile or stack are selected and pulled off in similar manner and the operator has to go through the same motion to select all the forms in the pile stack up to the last kind.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims, and parts of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim as my invention:

1. A machine for sorting and separating sheets or printed forms, the latter having openings including slots and apertures near one of their edges and similar slots and apertures near the opposite edge; the machine comprising a base for supporting a stack of the forms; a group of holding pins above the stack in coordination with the openings at one edge of the stack; a group of pulling pins above the stack in coordination with the openings at the opposite edge of the stack; a member slidably supporting the holding pins; means to slidably support the member above the base for movement in a vertical direction; a second member slidably supporting the pulling pins and slidably supported by a supporting means on the base for movement in a vertical direction;

means to slidably support the second pin supporting member in a horizontal direction; means to yieldably urge all pins downward; means to move the first member against the stack for causing the holding pins to enter the openings; means to move the second member against the stack; means to admit one pulling pin to enter an opening in a selected sheet While preventing the other pulling pins from entering the openings in the stack; a rack on the second'pin supporting member; a gear in mesh with the rack; means to rotate the gear for moving the pulling pins away from the first member thereby separating the selected sheet from the stack; means to retain the holding pins in engagement with the stack when the member with the pulling pins is moved away from the holding pins; and means to release the holding pins when the member with the pulling pins is returned to its original position.

2. A machine for sorting and separating sheets or printed forms, the latter having openings including slots and apertures near one of their edges and similar slots and apertures near the opposite edge, the machine comprising a base for supporting a stack of the forms; a group of holding pins above the stack in coordination with the openings at one edge of the stack; a group of pulling pins above the stack in coordination with the openings at the opposite edge of the stack; a member slidably supporting the holding pins in a parallel alignment; means to slidably support the member above the base for movement in a vertical direction; springs urging the holding pins downward; a second member slidably supporting the pulling pins in a parallel alignment; springs urging the pulling pins downward; means to slidably support the second member on the base for movement in a vertical direction; means to slidably support the supporting means of the second member for movement along the base; a plurality of bars slidably supported above the stack under the holding pins; a plurality of bars slidably supported above the stack under the pulling pins, the bars having difierently positioned holes for the pins; manually operable keys on the base; operative connections between the keys and the bars for bringing bars withthe holes in register with selected holding pins and with selected pulling pins when a selected key is depressed; a rack attached to the second member; a gear in mesh with the rack; and a motor for operating the gear thereby moving the second member with the pins engaging holes in selected sheets away from the first member and pulling out the selected sheets from the stack.

3. A machine for sorting and separating sheets or printed forms, the latter having openings including slots and apertures near one of their edges and similar slots and apertures near the opposite edge; the machine comprising a base for supporting a stack of the forms; a group of holding pins above the stack in coordination with the openings at one edge of the stack; a group of pulling pins above the stack in coordination with the openings at the opposite edge of the stack; a member slidably supporting the holding pins in a parallel alignment; means to slidably support the member above the base for movement in a vertical direction; springs urging the holding pins downward; a second member slidably supporting the pulling pins in a parallel alignment; springs urging the pulling pins downward; means to slidably support the second member on the base for movement in a vertical direction; means to slidably support the supporting means of the second member for movement along the base; a plurality of bars slidably supported above the stack under the holding pins; a plurality of bars slidably supported above the stack under the pulling pins, the bars having differently positioned holes for the pins; manually operable keys on the base; operative connections between the keys and the bars for bringing bars with the holes in register with selected holding pins and with selected pulling pins when a selected key is depressed; vertical racks on the holding pin supporting member; a gear in mesh with each of the racks; means to rotate the gears for moving the racks with the member and pins downward for causing the holding pins to enter the selected holes in the forms; vertical racks on the second member; gears in mesh with the second member racks; means to rotate the second gears for moving the second member downward for causing the pulling pins to enter the selected holes; a motor; and means to move by the motor the second member away from the first member for pulling out the selected sheet.

4. A machine for sorting'and separating sheets of printed forms with openings including slots at the opposite edges, the machine comprising a base for supporting a stack of the forms; a row of holding pins for the openings at one side of the stack of forms; a frame vertically supported on the base slidably supporting the pins; a

U-shaped member slidably supported on the frame engaging the pins; bars slidably supported under the pins having openings for the pinsa means to selectively move the bars for placing openings under selected pins; a second frame above the other side of the stack of the forms; a row of pulling pins slidably supported in the frame; a second U-shaped member slidably supported in the second frame engaging the pulling pins; bars slidably supported under the pulling pins having openings for the pulling pins; means to selectively place the bars under the pulling pins with holes under selected pins; racks on the U-members; gears engaging the racks; means to rotate the gears for moving the U-members downward and causing the selected holding and pulling pins to enter the holes in the forms; a horizontal rack on the second frame; a gear in mesh with the horizontal rack; and means to rotate the last named gear for moving the second frame away from the first frame thereby pulling the selected form from the stack.

5. A machine for sorting and separating sheets of printed forms with openings including slots at the opposite edges, the machine comprising a base for supporting a stack of the forms; a row of holding pins for the openings at one side of the stack of forms; a frame vertically supported on the base slidably supporting the pins; a U-shaped member slidably supported on the frame engaging the pins; bars slidably supported under the pins having openings for the pins; means to selectively move the bars for placing openings under selected pins; a second frame above the other side of the stack of the forms; a row of pulling pin slidably supported in the second frame; a second U-shaped member slidably supported in the second frame engaging the pulling pins; bars slidably supported. under the pulling pins having openings for the pins; means to selectively place the bars under the pulling pins with holes under selected pins; racks on the U-members; gears engaging the racks; means to rotate the gears for moving the U-members downward and causing the selected holding and pulling pins to enter the holes in the forms; a horizontal rack on the second frame; a gear in mesh with the horizontal rack; means to rotate the last named gear for moving the second frame away from the first frame thereby pulling the selected form from the stack; and a gauge device on the second member for adjustably limiting the movement of the second member.

JOSEPH ZALKIND. 

